I wanted James Gunn to succeed with the DCU. After he left Marvel with nothing short of a football-spike with "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3," a movie that was satisfying on so many levels — especially at a time when Marvel couldn't stop themselves from dropping the ball — I was curious as to how he would take the DC cinematic universe and fix it.
Long story short, he didn't. He proceeded to take these incredibly minor characters and even villains and give them movies that never exceeded "good enough." The main superheroes everyone knew and loved were mostly absent, save Superman, and not everyone was impressed with his version of it. Moreover, Gunn's need to add edge to everything often overcame his sense. That became incredibly clear when he decided one of his shows needed a full-fledged orgy scene where nothing was hidden.
It became pretty clear at that point that Gunn needed guidelines to operate effectively. Disney gave him those boundaries, and it allowed him to create the weird but lovably plucky Guardians. Without them, you get the DCU, a mess of overly edgy C-list characters that become less and less entertaining the more you get to know them.
So it came as a shock to no one when it was suddenly announced that Gunn was out as head of DC. As reported by Variety:
In a surprise executive shuffle, James Gunn and Peter Safran are stepping down as CEOs and chairmen of DC Studios. They will be replaced by Jeremy Latcham, who will serve as president and chief creative officer.
Gunn and Safran’s exit is unexpected because they were named as part of David Ellison’s business leadership team at the newly renamed Skydance when Paramount’s $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery had closed in October. After four years as heads of DC, resetting the studio’s comic book division to mixed commercial results, Gunn and Safran will return full time to creative work.
The question now is "Who is Jeremy Latcham?"
As it turns out, he's the guy who could very well introduce both sanity and meaning to superhero stories again. As it turns out, he's a man of faith who values meaning in stories, not just shock, awe, and CGI puke. His approach to moviemaking, in fact, comes from his faith in Christ.
If his interview with CBN is any indication, we may be in for a lot more of a wholesome and substantial DCU:
The new head of DC studios gets it. The vibe has shifted and the edgy, cynical superhero thing is beyond tired. Give us something hopeful and wholesome. Most Americans want to sit with their parents and their children and experience a good story together. Best of luck, Jeremy Latcham! https://t.co/TP6aLW0SJ6
— Paul Anleitner (@PaulAnleitner) November 9, 2026
If you didn't catch that or couldn't watch it, Latcham is responsible for many beloved superhero movies, including the original "Iron Man" that would kickstart the superhero genre as we know it today.
In another interview, Latcham said that he thinks too many movie studios get it wrong nowadays because they put spectacle first. His approach is to put "heart, humor, and spectacle" in that order. He dismisses spectacle as being that important, saying that what the audience really wants is to connect with characters first and foremost.
Okay, I am sold on Jeremy Latcham. He gets it. If you want to make good superhero movies, the audience has to actually fall in love with these characters. It can’t just be a bunch of good special effects with lousy storytelling. It’s all about the heart. That is what made Iron Man and the other Avengers movies he was involved in so successful. I’m stoked for what he comes up with. https://t.co/C48DKSgRBz
— Jacktron (@jacktronprime) November 10, 2026
Obviously, Latcham will have to prove himself as the head of a studio, which, as Gunn has proven, is an entirely different beast than just making a movie, but if I'm being up front, Latcham's principles and approach to storytelling seem far more grounded in quality than any other head I've seen.
If he pulls off what I think he's capable of pulling off, I wouldn't be surprised to finally see DC become the contender to the MCU that many wish it could be. Gunn seemed incapable of getting there because he didn't have the moral compass necessary to create superhero films, but Latcham not only has experience and success, he has guiding principles that would keep him on the right course.
I'm officially excited to see what DC does next.
